Serica Smooth, a new salon in Wantage, officially opened its doors on April 16th, offering sugaring treatments as an alternative to waxing and other beauty services. The salon is co-owned and operated by Hanna Tereshchemko, a 48-year-old Ukrainian expat, alongside her business partner, Sarah Morris, who also owns the Grocer Chef café in Ardington.
Before relocating to the UK, Hanna successfully ran an online store called Serica in Odesa, Ukraine, where she lived with her husband Vitalii, her daughter Sofiia, and her son Nazar. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Odesa became a target of regular bombings, prompting Hanna and her family to leave for their safety.
After three months in Bulgaria, the family moved to Ardington, where they were warmly welcomed by locals who helped them adapt to their new environment. One of these supporters was Sarah Morris, who became both a close friend and a business partner to Hanna. Despite initial language barriers, Sarah assisted Hanna in settling into her new home while brainstorming the idea of opening a salon offering sugaring treatments—a concept relatively fresh in the UK.
The duo quickly discovered they shared a similar outlook, with Hanna’s expertise in sugaring complementing Sarah’s familiarity with UK business regulations. Their collaborative effort soon resulted in the establishment of the salon, attracting Wantage locals who were eager to try the innovative beauty services. To explore other beauty service providers in the area, visit our Beauty Directory.
Remarkably, Hanna is not the first Ukrainian refugee to start a business in Wantage. Earlier this year, Alyona Tarasova and Lara Tysiachna opened the Cake Bar bakery on Grove Street, which has garnered considerable success since its launch.
Despite feeling content with her new life in the UK, Hanna still worries about the conflict in Ukraine and the uncertainty surrounding her return to her homeland. Nonetheless, she takes pride in the progress she has made since arriving in the UK and is deeply appreciative of the support from the local community.
